Nice to hear from you, I linked to that same comparison on last page but I didn't spot the absence of that white speck, good catch. Interesting, I have to check my UK VHS and see if it's there.

Hey, Silverwook, I just checked my PAL VHS and the dirt is there, I also checked that comparison page again, and you can see that the white speck is present on those caps as well if you look close enough, it's just a little harder to notice it as that transfer is more heavily cropped.

So... if not the Japanese transfer is from a different master, I guess we'll have to live with that dirt in frame unfortunately. I don't know how distracting it will be on modern displays but I would prefer to leave it than to have the picture information cropped out. I think I can live with it, it's the original cut of the film after all. :)

Yeah, it's not the worst thing in the world. Ironic that we have to watch the famously stark and clean THX on a dirty old transfer.

Why would it be super clean it was shot on techniscope a very grainy dirty format. The reason the DVD is that clean is because of DVNR.  Though mostly lightly applied, a bit half what they use to scrub a release to look like video.

Of you mean specks on a 35mm print those would be there is they did not handle the film very cleanly at the processing lab, or if the print itself was mishandled.   This is one film where there won't be extra quality on a 35mm print that is not there on a 16mm print, same with graffiti if the prints are pristine and not faded. 

Unlike star wars which was shot on much more expensive film equipment, film stock and on true 35mm anamorphic not a blowup like Techniscope.

Actually i cannot remember if they were both shot on techniscope or if one was shot on super16. Graffiti and THX i mean not star wars.

SilverWook said:

Finally heard back from the seller, and awaiting their findings compared to the screencaps.

That is some great news! :)

I love that this is shot in Techniscope. The format gave so many great films their intense grainy look.

SilverWook said:

Here is what the seller had to say:

"The white fleck is not present on the Japanese pressing. It has issues of its own though, with some speckling especially during the opening titles."

So. worth pursuing to combine the best of both discs? I'm satisfied it's a different transfer at this point, same print or not.

Interesting, hmm... I wonder if he is talking about the same dirt on the opening titles that is also present on both the US and UK transfers. If it really is a different transfer, it certainly is worth it imo. But I cannot help to not be a little sceptic about it, I noticed that the white speck didn't show up when viewed on my old CRT TV, so there is a slight possibility he could've missed it, and there is also the possibility of a different cropping but I guess we'll never find out if we don't give it a shot.

If it's not too expensive I'd say why not?

I like that picture. ;)

The DVD and Blu-ray includes the original theatrical trailer, but as you said, it would be a great extra, the original shortfilm could also be a cool feature. I really hope it's a different and better transfer of the film on that LD, it would be great!